Department History

Early Law Enforcement
The City of Boerne was incorporated in 1909, and as with most small Texas towns, law enforcement was the responsibility of a city marshal and the local sheriff. Records from City Council meetings report Joe Saunders as the first city marshal on February 9, 1909. In 1911, Paul Menn succeeded Saunders and served until 1914. The city marshal post was continued until 1953, when an ordinance creating a chief of police and tax assessor collector was enacted. On April 13, 1953, F.O. Cole was appointed chief of police.

Chief Cole
Chief Cole came to be known as "Bulldog." He also earned a second nickname, “Cherry Top,” from the teenagers in Boerne, because he drove his own green Mercury with one red light mounted on the roof. Chief Cole was assisted in his duties by a night watchman, whose main purpose was to alert the Fire Department in case of fire. Geng Newton and S.L. Wood were two of the night watchmen at that time.

The night watchmen also checked doors on the downtown stores to make sure all was secure. Time clocks were hung on some of the doors, and the watchmen would insert a key to mark the time they had checked the building. Another important duty was turning the traffic lights on and off. Boerne boasted two traffic signals, one at Main and Theissen and another at Main and Blanco. At 6 a.m., Chief Cole would turn the lights on, and at 10 p.m., the night watchmen would turn them off.

L.M. Holman
On May 9, 1955, Mr. L.M. Holman was hired to replace Chief Cole. Chief Holman was paid a salary of $400 per year plus 5% commission on taxes collected. He was also allowed to live in the Kulhman King historical house behind the city offices. Chief Holman supplied his own vehicle. According to City Council minutes from January 28, 1957, he complained to City Council about not having a place to put prisoners.

Earl Buck
On May 13, 1957, Earl Buck was hired to replace Chief Holman. Chief Buck’s salary was approved at $225 per month, and he continued the combined duties of chief of police and tax collector. Apparently the commission on tax collection was not part of Chief Buck’s salary. Chief Buck was the Boerne Police Department to a majority of residents over the next 30 years. Teenagers kept Chief Buck busy during the 1960s and 1970s, and many of those teenagers, who are now in their 50s, still fondly recall their Earl Buck stories.

Chief Buck retired from the City of Boerne in 1982, but stepped down as chief in 1981. Emmett Shields filled the position on an interim basis until Donald Woods was appointed chief in September 1981. Chief Woods came to Boerne from Georgetown and served as chief until May 1984.

Walt Myers
Walt Myers was appointed chief of police on May 28, 1984. Chief Myers also came to Boerne from Georgetown and worked with Chief Woods as a Boerne lieutenant. Chief Myers was instrumental in establishing a close working relationship between the Boerne Police Department and the Boerne Independent School District with programs such as McGruff the Crime Dog.

Gary Miller
Gary Miller was appointed chief of police in March 1989. Chief Miller came to Boerne from the McAllen Police Department. Chief Miller has expanded the relationship with the school district by assigning school resource officers to three campuses. Chief Miller retired from the Boerne Police Department in October 2011 and transferred the responsibility and leadership to Chief Jim Kohler.